Page 10 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

Glimmering like diamonds under the late afternoon sunlight, the tips of the ocean waves are mesmerizing. If I could bottle this sight with the wind kissing my skin to gift, I’d make millions. Not a video knock-off. The vacation itself has to be added to my catalog. Not right now though, so I put business aside and enjoy the view myself.

I couldn’t ask for a better end to summer, and even though we ventured around the island today, it’s been nice to relax at the pool, read a book, and drink while dancing last night away. I honestly don’t care about another party on some yacht in the harbor when staring at this stunning sight.

The ride back to the hotel flies by too quick, and as soon as we pull up to the front, a valet greets us before we can even remove our helmets. While Nick tips him, I take my helmet off and fluff my hair, and then drop my hands to my sides like I wasn’t being a total girl wanting to look good for him when he comes around the scooter. “Ready?” he asks.

“Actually, I’m not ready,” I mumble under my breath because Nick is more than a hot guy I met at a bar.

“What was that?”

As we walk toward the door, my stomach fills with the impending goodbye, and I reluctantly reply, “Yes.” Just inside the hotel doors, I stop and look around the bustling lobby. When I turn back to him, awkwardness has become a third wheel. “This has been . . .”

“Thishasbeen . . .” He looks down and starts laughing. A shyness has crept over his features, and his eyes find mine again. “I don’t know what to say, Natalie. You?” I shake my head. He shoves his hands in his pockets and lets a few seconds pass before he rocks back on his heels. “So, we’re here.”

“We are.” I mimic him by dipping my fingers into my pockets. “Although I had concerns, we arrived safely despite the two wheels. Thanks for that.”

“Thanks for trusting me with your life.”

“Two times in one day. If we’re not careful, this could become a habit.” When a couple walking arm in arm cuts a little close to me, I move closer to Nick. Waiting for them to pass, I keep an eye over my shoulder.

When we’re alone again, he says, “Would that be such a bad thing?”

His eyes are darker in the shadows of this space between—left to the parking lot and right to the lobby—but I can still see the playfulness in the golden edges. “So far, it hasn’t been.”

“Give me enough time, and I’m sure I’ll blow it.”

“You say stuff like that, but I have a feeling that like earlier, the great Nick doesn’t blow much.” My hand flies to cover my mouth. Through slits of my fingers, I wince. “That did not come out how I wanted at all.”

Through a restrained chuckle, he asks, “How’d you want it to come?”

I hold my finger up. “I, uh.” His twist of words causes my breath to stagger, and I bite my lip. I’m not even sure he was insinuating anything, but my body reacts like he most certainly was. I cross my arms over my chest to keep them from grabbing hold of him, clinging to him like I’ve become a regular fixture around his parts—a new freckle or I’d even settle for a blemish, but he clearly doesn’t have any of those. “Well, it’s been?—”

“Are we already back to impersonal goodbyes again? I was hoping for?—”

Screw it.I move in, ready to show him just how personal I can be. “For something more personal.” Throwing my arms around his neck, I close my eyes just as I plant my lips on his. But when nothing happens—not a peck, not a great lip embrace that leads to a tango of the tongues—I jerk back and find his eyes fixed on mine but warm like melted chocolate.Delicious.Except that rejection crawls under my skin and starts setting up residence.

Just when I step back, he grabs my arms, capturing me before I can escape my humiliation. “I didn’t expect that.”

“Pfft.” I try to blow it off. I may not be able to run from him, but I can look everywhere else around him and search for cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling, a crack in the plastered walls or please Lord, give me the strength not to care that he didn’t want to kiss me. “Oh God, yeah, no worries. I didn’t either.”

He tilts his head, and the slightest of lines creases between his brows. Even curiosity can’t detract from his good looks, though. And damn those dimples that appear out of nowhere. “You don’t have to be embarrassed, Natalie. I just?—”

“Yeah, I just . . . too.”Wait, that makes no sense.“You know, I think it’s best if I go now. This weekend isn’t about hooking up with a straight from the pages of my favorite magazine model just because I fell purposely into his arms. “

“Purposely?”

“Ignore me. I’m babbling.”

“You’re impossible to ignore.” Speaking of impossibilities, he’s hard to read. Was that a compliment or an insult?

I’m not sure. That’s my cue to exit. Thumbing over my shoulder, I add, “This was a girls’ trip.” I snort-laugh, not even meaning to make a joke, but that one just fell into my lap. “Pun intended. Get it? I’m a girl, and I tripped?”

I like that he laughs when I’m trying to be entertaining, even if I’m not that funny. “I got it. Glad I could be a part of that trip. Pun intended.” He winks, and yeah, take me out of the oven because I’m done—hot and ready to be eaten. Though I’m getting a little ahead of myself with the last part.

Ticking through theprosof why I should be walking away—early morning flight, the no-sex clause I agreed to, and him smelling so good that I know I’d lose all my sensibilities in a night of passion. Though that last one should go on theconlist.

I back away, begrudgingly distancing myself, and let my gaze trail after a bellman. Two words: Love. Embargo. I clap and take another step back. “Alrighty then.” Pushing my hand forward and raising my chin, I say, “It’s been interesting, Nick.”

“That it has.” The heat and the spark of electricity between us has my heart kicking into gear. “So, this is our farewell?”

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